Chapter 12: Can music saves life’s?

NOAH

The sun was setting.

Golden light stretched across the horizon, painting Willowmori in shades of amber and rose. Down below, the town was alive with the distant hum of the festival, laughter, drums, chatter , but I sat apart, on a quiet bench near the cliffside garden that overlooked it all.

My doppelgänger was still with Zoe and the others, playing my part, smiling my smile.
And me? I was here, trying to figure out who I actually was.
I couldn’t do anything, because I didn’t know anything, this was a person’s life, what could I have done in that moment? Nothing, because i didn’t have any proper training from med school since my doppelgänger was the one who attended in my place, and she came to the rescue knowing what to do.

Should I have given up on music?
Should I have just followed my parents’ plan and become a doctor?

The image of that man bleeding on the ground replayed over and over.
The helplessness. The panic.
It reminded me of Melody, lying there in pain, her face pale and trembling.

Music couldn’t save her.
Music couldn’t save him.
So what good was it, really?

Was chasing this dream just a selfish mistake?

As the wind brushed past, a voice broke my thoughts.
"You look like a kid who’s questioning his whole existence."

I turned.

A tall man stood nearby, wearing a long coat shaped like a conductor’s mantle. His hair was silver at the ends, his eyes sharp yet strangely kind.
He looked like someone who had lived a hundred lifetimes through music.

"I—sorry, do I know you?"

He smiled faintly. "Not yet."
Then, as if reading my mind, he continued,
"Just because music can’t save a person’s life the way a doctor can… doesn’t mean it’s useless."

"…Huh?"

"Doctors heal the body," he said, stepping forward, "but musicians — they heal the soul.
You don’t need to stop the bleeding to keep someone alive, kid. Sometimes, a song is enough to make them want to live."

I blinked, stunned silent. "I still don’t know who you are, care to at least tell me your name?"


He ignored my question, chuckled softly, then turned toward the setting sun.
"So whatever you’re doing, don’t give up. If music is your truth, then walk that path. Even if no one believes in it yet — you do."

And just like that, he walked away, his coat fluttering in the breeze until he disappeared among the festival lights.

"What the…who the heck was that guy…and how did he knew what was I thinking?" I muttered, half bewildered, half moved.
Still, his words stuck to my heart like an echo that refused to fade.

Maybe he was right.
Maybe… music could save me, even if I couldn’t save anyone else.

As I was lost in thought, I heard footsteps.

"Hey."

I turned and there she was.
My doppelgänger.

She sat down beside me on the bench, leaving a small distance between us. The wind played gently with her hair as we both stared at the sunset.

"You okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah… I think so. You?"

"Just doing my job," she replied simply.

"Did you learn all that from med school?"

"Yeah."

Then, after a pause, she asked, "Did you learn guitar at the conservatory?"

That caught me off guard.
"You saw me play at the train right?"

She didn’t answer, just kept her eyes on the fading sun.

I exhaled softly, answering her question. "Not exactly. I learned it from my grandpa… then I taught myself."

"So you already had the talent," she said, "then why hide it?"

It felt conversing with her, since I barely even know her.
"Because of my mom," I admitted, my voice low. "She hates music.
Her hate spread to my dad, and… things got bad. I was almost sent to juvie, but my parents pulled strings and sent me to medical school instead."

She listened quietly, not interrupting once.

"What about you?" I asked. "What’s your story?"

She smiled faintly. "I’m just someone trying to have a life."

"Just that? No goals nor dreams nor objectives? Just living the life not to the fullest."

"My only goal," she said, "is to earn enough to support my family."

I nodded.
"And the others? Do they know about you?"

"Don’t worry. They don’t suspect a thing. But, Noah…" she turned to me, her eyes calm yet firm.
"You can’t hide forever. Secrets don’t stay buried. Better to tell them yourself before they find out."

"I know," I said. "I’m aware, is just that… I don’t know how."

"You’ll figure it out."
She stood then, brushing off her skirt. "My name’s Misaki Fujioka," she said, offering a faint smile. "Self-taught actress."

I smiled back, rising to my feet. "Noah Maesutoro. Self-taught musician."

"I know," she said.

It was getting late.

I took out my wallet and pulled two ten-thousand-yen bills, placing them on the bench between us.

Misaki glanced at the money, confused.
"What’s this for?"

"For saving me earlier," I said.

“Saved you? I saved that man’s life.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean, but you also saved my life from that situation.”
She thought for a moment then she shook her head. "It’s fine. Keep it."

"I need to pay you back somehow," I insisted. "How about I treat you to dinner instead?"

Her brow lifted slightly. "Listen," she said, half-smiling, "you’re a great guy with big dreams, but I’m not looking for a boyfriend."

"Wait what? No, it’s not like that," I said quickly, waving my hands. "I just want to say thanks that’s all. And honestly… I’m beginning to feel a bit rumble in my tummy, aren’t you starving after what happened today?"

Misaki sigh softly. "Well, if you insist."

We both stood up, but just then, my phone buzzed.
A message from Yuki.

Noah, have you checked on Cassie yet? She still isn’t replying to my messages. Please go see her, I’m really worried.

"Perfect timing," I muttered. "Cassie’s parents own a restaurant near the beach. We can eat there."

"Alright," Misaki said. "Lead the way."

Cassie’s family restaurant was warm and welcoming, the faint scent of basil and soy mixed in the air.
It was a blend of Italian and Japanese comfort, with red lanterns hanging above sleek wooden tables and framed photos of customers smiling beside plates of pasta and sushi rolls.

Misaki’s eyes wandered over the menu, her indecision clear. "You weren’t kidding about the fusion part," she murmured.

I smiled faintly, then turned to Cassie’s mother behind the counter. "Good evening, Mrs. Miyahara. Is Cassie around?"

"Of course," she said kindly, wiping her hands with a towel. "She’s upstairs."

She turned toward the staircase and called out,
"Cassie! Your friends are here!"

No response.

She frowned and called louder. "Cassandra! Did you hear me?"

Still nothing. The air felt… heavy.

Something was off.

Misaki and I exchanged a look, then quickly headed upstairs.
I knocked on Cassie’s door. "Cassie, it’s Noah. You in there?"

Silence.

I knocked again, harder this time. "Cassie?"

Still nothing.
I tried opening the door but it was locked.

A sinking feeling twisted in my gut. "Stand back," I said to Misaki.

Then I rammed my shoulder against the door. Once. Twice.

On the third hit, the lock gave way and the door swung open.

What I saw froze my entire body.

Cassie…?
was hanging from the ceiling.

The rope dug into her neck, her body limp, swaying ever so slightly in the dim room light.

"C–Cassie!?" My voice cracked. I couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

Then Misaki’s voice snapped me back.
"She’s still breathing! Quick — help me!"

She rushed forward, grabbing a chair to climb up, while I caught Cassie’s body from below. My hands trembled as I lifted her weight, trying to take the pressure off her neck.

Misaki cut through the rope with a kitchen knife she’d snatched from a nearby table. Cassie fell into my arms.

"Cassie! Hey! Stay with me!" I shouted, shaking her shoulders.

Her mother appeared at the doorway and the moment she saw her daughter, she screamed.

"Call an ambulance!" Misaki yelled. "Now!"

Mrs. Miyahara fumbled for her phone, tears streaming down her face as she dialed.

I knelt on the floor, cradling Cassie’s limp body, my heart pounding out of rhythm.

Her pulse was weak… but it was there.

Please, Cassie… don’t go.